Truck scale



July s, 1924. 1,500,541

G. A. BERNACHE TRUCK SCALE l Filed Nov. 2, 1922 2 Sheets-Shen 2 Mimiatten m14 Patented uly 8, 1 924.

UNITED ,f STATES .Grenen i nnmucnn, or Nonrnm'rclv,

TRUCK SCALE.

Application led -N ovemher To all whom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, GEORGE A. BERNACHE, a citizen of the United States,residin at Northampton, in the county of Hamps ire and State ofMassachusetts, have invented certain new and usefulv Improvements in aTruck Scale, of which the following is a specification. y

This invention relates to attachmentsfor motor vehicles and the primaryobject of the invention is to rovide novel means associated directl wlthan automobile truck for accurately etermining'tlieamount of load carriedby the truck body.

Another object of the invention is to rovide means incorporated with anautomo ile" truck for permitt theweigh tively eliminating the necessityofweighing the articles prior to the loading thereof on the truck. r

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel weighing deviceassociated with automobile truc s embodyin a plunger or platform forengaging the be y of the truck and novel indicating means associatedwith the plunger or lplatform and disposed in the cab of the truc forshowing the amount of weight of the load on the truck body. 4 t

A further object of the invention is to provide novel means forassociatin the platform with the chassis of the truc whereby the saidplunger or platform will be free t0 move with the body of the truck toeffectively show the weight of the loadcarried thereby.

A further object of the invention is to provide novel means forpermitting the moving of the plunger or platform from out of ena ementwith the body, when the vehicle 1s in motion, thereby effectivelypreventing injury to the weighing mechanism.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improvedVweighing device for motor vehicle trucks of the above character, whichwill be durable and eiicient in use, one will be simple and easy tomanufacture, and one which can be placed upon the market and associatedwith a motor vehicle truck at a minimum cost.

With these and other objects in view the invention consists in the novelconstruction, arrangement and formation of arts, as will be hereinaftermore specifica y described, claimed, and illustrated in the accompanyingof the indicating l ing of articles placed on the truekbody, therebyeffeca, 1922. semi m. assise.

proved weighing mechanism incorporated therewith, parts of the truckbeing shown in section to permit the weighing mechanism to be clearlyseem Figure 2 is a vertical lon itudinal section through the improvedweig ing mechanism prior to the connection thereof with tne truck.

"Figure 3 is a fragmentary front elevation ortion of the weighingmechanism, parts t eneof bein broken away and. inY section to illustratet e operating partsthereof.

y Figure isa vertical fragmentary section through the plungr o'rplatform portion f the weighing mec anism takenat right angles to igure2. Y

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view illustratinga modifiedM means for connecting the actuating shaft -with the indicatinpointer.

Figure 6 is a sti further modified means for connecting the actuatingshaft with the indicator or pointer.

Referring wherein similar characters responding parts throughout theseveral views the letterA. generally indicates the imprved weighinmechanism and B a motor truck with which the same is associated.

While I have shown the im roved weigh- -ing mechanism associated wit atruck, it is to be understood that the same can be aplied to other formsand t es of motor veicles. The truck B is o the ordinary or anypreferred construction and includes the chassis 10 having the usual sidechannel beams 11, the rear drive axle 12, the rear to the drawin s indetail,

esignate cordrive wheels 13, the housing 14 for. the rear drive axle andtransmission therefor, and the elliptical s rings 15 for connecting thehousin 14 wit the side channel beams 11. The ysi e channel beams 11support transverse sills or bars 16 on which the body 17 may rest. Thisbody can be of any preferred type or character.. Forwardly of the body17 the channel beams 11 has secured thereto any preferred type of cab18.

The improved weighin lmechanism A. includes a plunger or plat crm 20,which is disposed intermediate the side channel beams 11 of the chassis10 and this platform or plunger is adapted to normally engage the lowersurface 4of the body 17. This plunger or platform 20, is in the natureof a flat plate and has secured to its lower surface a depending bar 21,which is slidably mounted within a suitable casing 22. The portion ofthe bar 21 which is disposed in the casing 22, has rack teeth 23 formedthereon and these teeth are adapted to mesh with apinion 24 carried by alongitudinally extending operating shaft 25. This shaft 25 referring toFigure 2 of the drawings.

,lents can be substituted therefor is also disposed between the sidechannel beams 11 and extends forwardly of the body 17 toward the cab 18.The casing 22 is provided with suitable bearing openingsv for thereception of said operating sha t. A heav expansion coil spring 26 isdisposed within the casing 22 and engages the lower end ofthe bar 21,which can be provided with a foot 27 for resting upon the up er surfaceof said spring. It is obvious t at the function of this s ring is tonormally hold the plun er or p atform 20 into firm contact `with t ebody 17.

lVhile I have shown rack and pinion con nection between bar 21 and theshaft 25, it is to ,beunderstood that mechanical etpivai so desired;

The casing 22 is secured in place in any referred manner, and as shownan arm 28 erined of strap iron is secured to the transmission casin 14and supports the lower end o f the sai casing 22.4 The forward. endofthesh ft 25 extends into a suitable gear casin 3() which is rovidedwith right angu arly extending earings 31 and 32. The bearing 31 is inlongitudinal alignment with the bearing openings for the rear end of theshaft 25 as can be readily seenTlpxy C bearing 32 rotatably supports acountershaft 33 and the upper end of the countershaft is extended into asuitable housing 34 which forms the indicating portion of the weighingmechanism, and will be hereinafter more fully described. This casing 34however sup orts a bearing 35 for the upper end of the s aft 33. Thecounter-shaft 33 and the drive shaft 25 can be connected together in anypreferred manner such as by beveled gearing 36, as clearly shown in thedrawings. The casing 30 is provided with right angularly extendingapertured ears 37 for permitting the same to be connected to aconvenient portion of the vehicle chassis. The casing 34 includes frontand rear walls 38 and 39 which are of a substantial semicircular shape,a fiat bottom wall 40 and an arcuate side wall 41. The arcuate sidewall- 41 is rovided with a longitudinally extending sot 42 through whichthe indicating pointer 43 is adapted toprotrude. The rear wall 39 can beprovided with an arcuate extension 43 which is graduated as at 44. it isobvious that these grduations can be of any preferred character forindicatin thil amount of load carried by the body It is obviousthat anumber ;of different mechanisms can be employed for transmitting themotion of the shaft 33 to the pointer 43 and as shown in Figures 2 and3, the upper end of the shaft 33 is provided with an operating crank 45,which is disor'plunger 20 will be'depr'essed ,when a load' is placed onthe bod 17; and the downward movement of this p atform or plunger will4rotate the shaft' 25, which in turn will rotate the shaft 33 and thusswing the pointer or indicator4 43 over the dial or 'graduations 44.This willishow the driver of the vehicle the load 'carried by the body.

lVhile'the casing 34 can be placed at any preferred point on a Imotorvehicle,' it is' desired vto place the saine in the cab 18 or adjacentthereto so that` the driver of the vehicle can readily see the scale orgraduations 44 and the pointer 43`at all times.`

In Figure 5 of the drawings I have shown another form `of means forconnecting the indicator 43 with the shaft 33. This means includes aworm 51 which is keyed toV the upper end of the shaft 33 and this worinmeshes with a worm wheel 52 carried bv the shaft on which the indicatoris secured. It can be seen that upon rotation of the shaft 33 thatmovement will be imparted to the indicator 43 through the worm and wormwheel mechanism.

ln Figure the drawings is shown a still further modified means forconnecting the indicator 43 with the shaft 33, and as shown the upperend of the shaft 33 is providedwith a beveled gear 54 which meshes witha companion beveled gear 55, which is secured in any preferred manner tothe shaft on which the indicator is secured.

The improved weighin mechanism A is only adapted to be used uring theloading of the vehicle and when the vehicle is in motion it is desirable-to have the platform or plunger 2O out of engagement with the body 17,so that injury to the weighing mechanism Y..

will be prevented due t/o movement of the body 17, the chassis 10 andtransmission casing, and as shown a cable 6() is provided for permittingthe manual moving of the plunger below the truck body. The upper i roend of this cable is secured as at 61 to the Elatform or plunger 20 andthis cable is rought forward through suitable guide eyes or pulleys 62to the housing 34. By pulling up on the forward end o the cable 60, itcan be seen that the plunger or latform 20 will be moved down and away;rom the body 17 against the tension of t e coil spring 26. Any suitablemeans may be vided for holdin the cable in its adjusted position so thattie platform or plunger 20 will be held below the platform. As shown theforward or uper end of the cable is provided with a. hoo 63 which isadapted to engage in a suitable eye or the like 64.

From the foregoing description i-t can be seen that an improved andsimple form of weighing mechanism has been provided for motor vehicletrucks which will effectively wei h articles laced on the body.

Changes in etails may be made without departing from the spirit or thescope of this invention.'

Having thus described my I claim as new isz- 1. The combination with amotor vehicle chassis and a body secured thereto having a drivers cab,of a weighing mechanism associated with said chassis includin anindicating portion mounted in the ca comprisin a housiilg rovided with ascale and an indicator movable over the tatable in the housing forsupporting the indicator, a platform means associating the chassis withthe plat orm, said platform being arranged to engage the lower surfaceof the bod and adapted to be depressed h the bod when the same is underload, a sha extending longitudinally of the chassis, means connectingthe platform and shaft for imarting movement to the shaft when the plat-?orm is dep a counter-shaft, means for imparting the movement tudinalshaft to the counter-shaft, and means for o ratively connecting thecounter-shaft with the shaft supporting said indicator.

2. The combination with a motor vehicle chassis including a pair of lon'tudinally extending side beams, a drive axlel and casing therefor,resilient means connecting the casin with the side beams and a bodyconnecte with the side beams, mechanism including an indicating portionhaving a dial and an indicator movable over the dial, a second casingdis osed between the channel beams an arm rigi y connecting the secondcasing with the ax e casing, a

invention what scale, a shaft robe of the longid of a weighing cplatform, a rod secured to the platform and slidably mounted in thesecond-named casing, an expansion coil spring dis within th and engagingsaid rod for normally ho ding the platform in en agement with said body,and means operatively connecting the platform with the pointer forimparting movement to the pointer when the platform is depressed.

e combination with a motor vehicle chassis including -side channel beamsand a drive axle, a housing for the drive axle, leaf springs connectingthe housing with the side c annel beams and a y connected with said sidechannel beams including a drivers cab, of a weighing mechanism includingan indicating portion mounted in the drivers cab having a graduated dialand a pointer movable over the dial, a casin rigidly connecting thecasing wit the housfor the drive axle, a platform means slidablyassociating the platform with the casing, resilient means normallyurging the platform into intimate contact with the body, meansoperatively connecting the platform with the pointer, and manually oerable means for moving and holding the atform out of engagement withthe bbdy against the tensionof said resilient means.

chassis including a pair of side channel ams, a housing for the driveaxle, elliptical springs connecting the housing with the side channelbeams and a body and drivers cab connected with the side channel beams,of a weighing mechanism includin a dia a pointer movable over the dial,t e dial and pointer being disposed adjacent to the drivers cab, acasing, an arm rigidly connecting the casin with the housing for thedrive axle, a s idable platform associated with the casing, resilientmeans isposed in the casing and normally holding the platform inengagement with the body, means operatively connecting the latform withthe indicator, and an o atin cable secured to the lower surface o the patform and terminating adjacent to the dial and pointer for permittingthe lowering of the platform by the driver, f engagement with the bodyand means for securing the forward end of the cable against movement. Intestimon whereof I aflix my signature in presence o a witness.

GEORGE A. BERNACHE. Witness:

DOMENICO LASTUMBO.

